From Desert to Swamp

Tuesday we put a contract on a house. It’s not what you see on the right. That’s just where we’ve been staying. But we think we’ve found the one for us here in Homosassa Springs, Florida.

What a contrast between El Paso Texas and Homosassa Springs! El Paso is a Western city. This is the Southeast. El Paso is desert. This is an area where boats and water are the main drawing card. El Paso is so dry. This is a place of springs and swamps, rivers, lakes, the Gulf of Mexico, heavy humidity and almost daily downpours of rain.

The Homosassa River begins where fresh-water springs bubble out of the limestone depths beneath Florida. Yesterday we went to another river nearby, the Chassahowitzka River, where we rented canoes and paddled a few miles. We saw all sorts of fish and at least 7 otters swimming right near us. It was so beautiful and special!

We have been searching for a house for days. A local realtor has been helping us, but we just haven’t been able to find anything suitable for us in our price range. Today we prayed together, and Lynn found something online. We went there, and were drawn to it. It’s smaller than our place in El Paso, but we need to scale down anyway. We felt good about this place, called the realtor, and took a look around. It seems the right place for us.

I also received a call from Regent University. I’ve been accepted for their master’s program, and will receive some scholarship money because of my excellent GPA. Thanks be to God! We’ll need all the financial help we can get!

We’ve been on the road for weeks. We left El Paso and went to New Braunfels, where we spend the night. Then it was on to Charlotte, NC, to check out Southern Evangelical Seminary. I liked so much about the place, and met with Dr. Frank Turek there as well. But some doctrinal differences seemed to me to indicate I should look elsewhere. That night, I thought of Regent, in Virginia Beach. The next day we drove there. It was beautiful, and more in line with my beliefs. We met a Muslim family from Kuwait in the pool at our hotel that night, and I was able to witness to them.

From there, we went to Columbia, SC, to check out Columbia International University. I liked so much about their seminary, but as I looked into the educational backgrounds of the faculty, I didn’t think I would be compatible with some of the professor’s beliefs there either. Of course, it’s impossible to agree with everything anybody believes, but when you see that most graduated from a very dispensational institution, well, it’s better to move on.

From there we drove on to Florida and met with some folks at my alma mater, Southeastern University, which also has a master’s program. But their program was only a year old, so I was concerned. After talking with some advisers on the phone, I felt better about Regent, so we applied and signed up to go there. As I said above, I got word I was accepted Monday, and signed up for my first classes on Wednesday. Hallelujah!

So we left a place where we’ve been for ten years, and a ministry we’ve been a part of all that time. We so needed a buyer for our house, and it looked like we’d never sell. It was such a burden, but we prayed together, and God brought a family from Mexico D.F. to buy it. Finally we saw some progress! That was step 1.

It seemed so hard to decide which seminary to attend, but God led us step by little step, and from seven seminaries, one, Regent, became the choice. That was step 2.

We didn’t know where to live, but decided on Homosassa, because that was something that drew me even while still in El Paso. It seemed we’d never find a place. But today, it looks like we have one. (When I wrote this, it still was not a completely sure thing, but tomorrow we give the down payment.)

It’s a whole new life. It’s a totally different sort of place. The climate, the humidity, the houses, the lifestyle, everything here is totally different from El Paso! It has all made me nervous and worried. I feel somewhat nervous about moving, somewhat nervous about studying and beginning a new program, nervous about our income, nervous about adapting to this place. I guess it’s just normal, given the huge change we’re making. It’s a whole new world, and a whole new life! There were so many things we had to figure out, so many steps we had to take.

At the same time, I know God promises to guide us, to care for us, to meet our needs. I know I can trust Him. I’ve done what I believe He wanted me to do. So I am trusting He will take care of the rest. It’s scary, but hey, life’s an adventure, isn’t it?! I’m sure glad I don’t have to walk it alone. I have my wife with me, and above all, I have God always with me. It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord and to sing praises unto His name! I can see Him guiding and providing every step, and helping us through the changes.

I kind of gave up everything to come here. I’m not in the ministry anymore; I’m just a student again. But I have had to step out of ministry twice before, and God has always brought me back and helped me to be more fruitful. I’m trusting that’s what will happen again this time. It’s great when you’re looking back and seeing all He’s done. It’s a bit more nerve-wracking when you’re looking forward and can only see fog! I guess that’s where trust comes in, where faith comes in, right? Lead on, oh Great Jehovah! We are strangers in this land. We are weak, but you are mighty. Guide us with, your powerful hand.